Larry Wayne Prather

Larry Wayne Prather, 69, of Cairo, passed away on Thursday, September 28^, 2023, at the University of Missouri Hospital.

Larry was born on June 1, 1954, in Cairo, Missouri, to Herman and Myrtle (Davidson) Prather. Larry Prather and Delina Moore were married on December 3, 1971.

Larry spent the majority of his life behind the wheel of his wrecker with Delina in the passenger seat. He loved Mopar cars, Dukes of Hazard, Sunday dinners with his family, and being at the farm with the cows. He could always be found in greasy jeans and a grey pocket t-shirt with a pen and a snack in his pocket. There wasn’t a day in 50 years that he didn’t mark the temperature or an event on the calendar in the kitchen. He was known for his wild ideas and stories that you couldn’t tell if they were true or not. Larry was very independent and could build anything he could dream up. Most people are fortunate enough to have a grandpa, but only a few of us were lucky enough to have a funny, onery, loving Grandpa Larry.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Herman and Myrtle (Davidson) Prather, parents-in-law Patricia Moore and Joseph Moore, sister-in-law Judy White, and great-grandson Grayson Prather.

His surviving family includes his wife of 52 years, Delina (Moore) Prather, 3 children, 9 grandkids, and 9 great grandkids who he loved dearly. His children include Franky Prather, Jimmy (Carol) Prather, Vanessa Joseph, and bonus son, Bill Joseph. His grandchildren include Christopher Prather and Nicholas Prather; Aaron Prather (Carly Hesson), Andrew Prather (Emma Prather), Austin Prather, Kelle Prather (Sadie Phipps), Tanner Prather; and Kyle Joseph (Lauren Kelly), Shelby Borghardt (Kaleb Borghardt). His great grandchildren include Cameron Prather, Kennady Prather, Braylon Prather; Bryar Prather, Abbi Prather, Mila Prather, Dutton Prather, and Stetson Prather; and Jaclyn Joseph. He loved telling stories and picking on his grandkids any chance he got.

Other surviving relatives include his three siblings Billy (Glenda) Prather, Bobby (Connie) Prather, Glenda (John) Taylor, as well as two brothers-in-law, Denny Moore and Joe Moore, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins that were a big part of his life.

A visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, followed by a funeral service beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Silver Dollar Event Center in Cairo, Missouri. The family asks that everyone in attendance please come in casual attire, as Larry would have wanted. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Larry would be appreciated to the Herman and Larry Prather Scholarship Fund for the Northeast R-IV School District c/o Delina Prather or to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at the University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, MO.